TOURIST DEPARTMENT

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 120, 18 February 1928, Page 8

TOURIST DEPARTMENT

AGENTS’ ATTITUDE TO SOUTH ISLAND Dominion Special Service. Christchurch, February 16. Along with other South Island bodies who are interested, the Canterbury Progress League has had doubts about the service the South Island has been getting from the Government lourist Department. The complaint has been in general that visitors from overseas going to the. Department officers for advice and aid have been encouraged to spend their available time in the North Island. Evidence of this is supplied, tn the report as published in the ‘ New Zealand Herald” of remarks at Gisborne bv Mr. H. J. Manson, New Zealand Government agent in Australia. Mr. Manson said he was making a visit to the Poverty Bay district in, ordet to investigate its claims to attention by tourists from Australia. The following telegram has been forwarded to the Minister in charge of the Tourist Department (the Hon. W. Nosworthy) by Mr. I’. R. Climie for the Canterbury Progress League: “According to a Gisborne telegram in the Auckland ‘Herald’ last Monday, Mr. Manson, Government agent in MelIxiurne, stated he hoped to make a special appeal to Australians to tour the North Island, instead of visiting the whole of New Zealand’s attractions. This is a specific example of the manner in which attention of tourists is concentrated on North Island by Government agents. Trust you will look into matter and take steps to see that South Island is fairly treated. In view of repeated reports from tourists and others that the South Island is neglected bv Government agencies, we desire to direct special attention to Mr., Manson’s statement and to protest in the strongest possible terms against what appears to us to be an extremely unwise and partial attitude towards the South Island.”